by Jon Athan
Anna stared at the silhouettes from afar, trying to identify the men. The group was illuminated by the neighboring flare, but the savage pursuers shrank with the distance. The young college student could barely see them. However, she could see the burly man lifting a tool over his head – a sledgehammer, surely.
The hulking man swung the sledgehammer down at Anderson, striking the center of his forehead with the metal head. Anderson violently convulsed from the savage blow, shaking on the ground like a fish out of water. The large man lifted the sledgehammer over his dome, then he swung down again. The state trooper's skull was crushed. Blood gushed from the lacerations on his dented forehead. His eyeball popped out from its socket, plummeting to the pavement.
Anna shuddered as she witnessed the event. She couldn't see the blood splatter or the head explode, but she could see Anderson's trembling body and each strike. The silhouettes spoke volumes about the attack. The men were barbaric, celebrating the cruel killing. Anna sat forward in her seat, lost in her thoughts. She wondered: could he have survived with our help? The officer was left for dead, sacrificed for the pair's survival. The couple did not share another word on the matter.
Chapter Ten
The Motel
Anna stared out the back window, keeping her eyes locked on the road behind the sedan. The road was desolate, lonely and eerie. Although the couple had traveled a dozen miles from the crash site, she still believed the sinister men could catch up to them in an instant. The wicked brothers were not hindered by a fear of death, speed was merely an adrenaline rush.
Wide-eyed, Austin said, “Anna, look...”
Anna reluctantly turned in her seat, afraid she might find another grisly accident. She was surprised to see two buildings on the right side of the road. The lonesome buildings were illuminated, welcoming stragglers from far and wide. The first structure was a diner, the neighboring building was a motel. The tantalizing scent of roadside delicacies and the sweet allure of sleep called their names, seductively whispering into their ears with honeyed words. Grab a bite, get some sleep.
Austin asked, “Should we stop?”
As they approached, Anna stared at the buildings and said, “I'm not sure. It might not be a good idea.”
“I don't think I can keep going. I'm... I know you think it's a joke, but I'm scared and I'm tired. I need some rest. If I keep going, I'm afraid I'm going to crash and get us killed. They'll catch up to us anyway, won't they? They're faster than us, they're more reckless. They won't give up.”
Anna glanced at her boyfriend with vacant eyes. She was equally exhausted and afraid, but she had already drained all of her tears. She could not cry. She scrunched her face as she recognized the fear in her boyfriend's voice. She understood the hopeless dilemma. One way or another, the persistent brothers would find them and slaughter them.
Teary-eyed, Anna licked her lips, then she said, “Okay. Let's stop at this motel and rent a room.” Austin's face glowed with relief. Anna nodded and said, “But, we should... we shouldn't park out in the open. Let's park in-between the buildings. Behind a cactus or something. They won't know where we are if we hide the car and hide in a motel room, right?”
“Right.”
Austin tightly gripped the wheel and inhaled deeply as the duo passed the diner. There were a handful of people inside of the eatery, chattering with each other and devouring their food. As the sedan escaped the illumination of the roadside eatery, the photographer took a sharp right. The sedan jounced on the dirt as the vehicle rolled to a stop beside a cactus and behind a dried shrub. With a turn of the key, the sedan was swallowed by the ominous darkness.
Austin said, “Just leave everything here, except your phone. We don't need an extra set of clothes or anything like that. Let's just get the hell out of here.”
Austin quietly exited the vehicle, keeping the ruckus to a minimum. He stared at the neighboring motel with narrowed eyes. He examined the strangely ominous building, baffled by the forbidding atmosphere. With Anna by his side, he sauntered towards the structure – abandoning the sedan in the horrifying abyss.
The motel appeared regular on the surface. There were only two floors with a dozen rooms each, and the rooms were easily accessible from the parking lot. There were only four vehicles in the parking lot – a slow night. The main office sat at the foyer of the parking area, below a neon sign. In bold cursive, the crimson sign read: Gates Motel 15.
The most peculiar part of the establishment was the structure behind the motel – a large house. Standing three stories high, a palatial home with dingy brick walls resided behind the motel. Several rooms in the stately house were clearly illuminated. Yellow light pierced through the windows. The house seemed perfect for a maniacal person.
As the pair approached the main office, Austin gazed at the towering house and whispered, “Where the hell did we end up?”
***
Austin and Anna peered into the office through the glass door. The room was simple. There were two sofas beside the door and a hardwood desk directly across the entrance. An elderly man stood behind the table, swaying like if he were standing on a rocking boat as he dozed in-and-out of consciousness – practically sleeping with his eyes open. The man was certainly strange, but he seemed harmless. The couple entered the office.
Austin knocked on the desk and said, “Hello. We'd like to rent a room for the night.”
The elderly man erratically blinked as if he were awoken from a deep slumber. He said, “Oh, welcome, welcome. My name is Charles. I'm the owner of this... this fine establishment. How can I help you tonight, folks?”
Austin furrowed his brow and stepped in reverse as he examined the man. He could handle a pinch of oddness in a person, but he was frightened of escaping one psychopath and landing in the clutches of another. He couldn't easily trust the elder. His trust issues were justified after enduring such a violent day.
Charles stood five-eight with a delicate figure – a gentle breeze could knock him over. He had a small bald spot towards the center of his dome, surrounded by bushy grizzled hair. His blue eyes were indecipherable. His face was covered in gnarled wrinkles. He wore a red sweater, rumpled gray slacks, and brown dress shoes.
Austin said, “We'd like to rent a room. Just one night. We'll be out by morning.”
Charles responded, “Okay. We only accept cash at the moment. I'm not into the whole credit and debit scam. I'm a paper man. If I can't feel it, then I don't have it. So, it'll run you about $50 a night. An extra $20 since you don't have a reservation. Sound good?”
Austin nodded and said, “Sure...” He turned towards Anna and asked, “You have $70? Or at least fifty? I think I have a twenty in my wallet.”
As the pair organized their finances, Charles sighed and stared at the ceiling. His lips moved as if he were speaking, but he did not utter a sound. He shuddered and nodded, then he continued his inaudible conversation with the ceiling. He burst into a gentle giggle, holding his knobbly hand to his mouth. As she handed her boyfriend a fifty-dollar bill, Anna stared at Charles with a furrowed brow – bewildered.
Austin planted the money on the table and said, “Here you go. Can we have a key?”
Charles blinked erratically as his conversation was disrupted. He sneered in annoyance at Austin, curling his lip and glaring with sharp eyes. The elderly man was clearly busy with his ceiling and the couple did not mind stampeding over his plans. Austin raised his brow as he stared back at the man. He didn't feel threatened. He was, however, confused.
Charles smiled and said, “You've got to fill out a form before you head to your room. Record keeping and such. You know the deal.”
“Okay, okay...”
As Austin filled out the standard form, sloppily scribbling across each line, Charles examined his key rack. The selection was wide on account of the slow night – only four of the 24 rooms were occupied. Yet, he had trouble choosing a key. He could have yanked any key from the wall, but he was contemplating his move. Suspicion
reigned supreme.
Anna asked, “Can we use your phone?”
Charles tossed a key on the counter – Room 104. He furrowed his brow and asked, “What for?”
“We have to call the cops. We've been running into some trouble lately. Please, can we use your phone? It'll only take a minute.”
Charles puckered his lips and nodded. He said, “No. But, you can use the phone in your room. No long distance calls, though. Make sure the police are local. I don't want any of that FBI bullshit around here. It's not good for business.”
Austin signed his name, then he stared up at Charles. He glanced at Anna and nodded, agreeing with her bemused expression. The man's nonchalant negligence was baffling. Austin simply sighed and grabbed the key. He was not going to argue with the odd man. He had made enough enemies for one night.
As the pair strolled towards the exit, Charles said, “Wait.” Austin and Anna turned towards the man, anxious. Charles said, “Don't forget to leave a review before you leave in the morning. You know, one of those internet reviews. It helps us get more business.”
Mystified, Austin nodded and said, “Sure...”
Charles sternly said, “I'm serious, boy. Don't forget.”
The couple simultaneously nodded and waved at the elderly man – bye. The man's constant shifts in mood were frightening and the pair couldn't handle it. They strolled out of the office, then they scampered towards their assigned room.
***
Austin turned the doorknob, then he slowly shoved the door open. Like a tsunami, the pearly moonlight poured into the humble motel room. Particles of dust danced through the air in front of the door, swaying with the sudden opening. A foul stench, like a body decomposing during a blazing summer, hurtled towards the door – the miasma itself was trying to escape the small chamber.
Pinching his nose, Austin stepped into the room and said, “It's better than dying out there, I guess...”
Anna pressed her nose on Austin's shirt, relishing in the aroma of his sweet cologne. She whispered, “Anything's better than dying out there.”
Austin shut the door behind him, then he glanced around the room. There was a window to the right of the door; the filthy glass barrier was veiled by cracked blinds and dusty black curtains. Next to the window, there was a small round table with a single chair. The rest of the room was obscured by the lingering shadows.
The photographer strolled forward, then he stopped at a nightstand. With the turn of a knob, the lamp illuminated the dingy room. The chamber was rather simple. There was a queen-sized bed beside the nightstand; the sheets were wrinkled, but the stains were kept to a minimum. Across from the foot of the bed, there was a dresser with a tube television on top. There was also a bathroom at the other end of the room.
Austin said, “Go ahead and freshen up if you want.”
Anna trudged towards the bathroom and said, “Yeah, sure.”
The bed squealed as Austin sat down beside the nightstand. There was a landline phone and a thick bible beside the lamp. Austin held the landline phone to his ear and tapped the keys, but to no avail. The phone was out of service. He checked his cellphone and found the same unfortunate results – no reception.
Austin whispered, “Why wouldn't he let us use his phone?”
Anna stood at the doorway as she glanced around the small bathroom. There was a sink and a toilet to the left, a bathtub-shower combination directly ahead, and a window to the right. The window led to the back of the building. The bathroom was simple and efficient, but the grime was undeniable. The young woman shook her head, disgusted by the lack of hygiene. She returned to Austin's side.
As he despondently gazed at his phone, Austin asked, “You mind trying out your cellphone?”
Anna asked, “Why? What's wrong?”
“The old man lied. The phone doesn't work. I don't have signal on my phone, either. Check yours.”
Anna bit her bottom lip and gently shuddered. The anxiety began to build up in her body, returning with full force. She checked her phone, then she whimpered. She had no reception in the dismal room. Holding the phone over her head ended with the same result. She thought she escaped the dead zone, but she simply descended deeper into the madness.
Austin gently rubbed her shoulder and said in a soft tone, “Calm down, sweetheart. Everything's going to be okay. We're going to get out of this, remember? Nothing's going to happen to us. I won't let them touch a hair on your head.”
Austin planted a soft kiss on Anna's forehead. He walked towards the door, then he peered through the peephole – the parking lot was silent and vacant. He checked each lock on the door twice, ensuring their maximum protection. He moved the rickety chair in the room, jamming the piece of furniture under the doorknob.
Austin whispered, “Everything's going to be okay...”
Austin and Anna sank into the rough mattress. The rugged mattress was more like a pile of rocks than a fluffy cloud, but the couple could manage. The filth did not bother them. Their minds were already polluted by the horrendous sight of murder. Dread was difficult to ease. It clung to minds like a needy child clinging to his mother – the grip was mighty. The couple found themselves reflecting on the unfortunate trip. Austin thought about his photo-shoot and the health of his career; Anna pondered the potential differences in the trip if she never joined.
Breaking the silence, Anna said, “I'm sorry for jumping into your trip at the last minute. You probably would have been an hour ahead of schedule if it wasn't for me.”
Austin said, “Don't talk like that. It's not your fault. We can sit here and blame ourselves all day, but it's not our fault. We didn't hurt anyone, we didn't do anything wrong.” He gently ran his fingertips across Anna's throat, reassuring her with his soft touch. He said, “Besides, I would never admit it on any other day, but I sort of like it when you tag along.”
Anna smirked and said, “I know you do. Thank you...” She nuzzled his neck, seeking comfort in her boyfriend's embrace. With a tear streaming down her cheek, the young woman said, “It's just so scary. I'm afraid we're not going to... It's hard to even say it. I'm afraid we might not 'make it,' I guess.”
Austin caressed his girlfriend's hair and said, “We're going to be fine, Anna. I promise, we're going to get through this. A cop is dead. He was killed by those monsters and there's no denying that. They can close a gas station, they can move a station wagon, and they can hide bodies, but they can't hide a cop's murder. They can't... I promise, we're going to make it.”
The assessment seemed rational, but it did not matter. Time was the most significant element in the game – time was power. If the vicious brothers found the couple first, an army of police officers searching the interstate in the early morning did not matter. Each party was racing against time, watching the timer countdown to zero. Anna buried her face in Austin's chest, whimpering as she tried to sleep.
Chapter Eleven
The Loud Neighbors
The wall behind the headrest trembled with a booming bang sound. The fragile wall ghoulishly groaned from the powerful impact in the neighboring room, like if the delicate barrier were jabbed by a heavyweight boxer. The ghastly groan echoed through the room – a cry for help from an inanimate object.
Austin and Anna sat up in bed, awakened by the racket. Austin glanced at the window. Moonlight seeped through the curtains. Morning had not yet arrived. He stared back at the wall with wide eyes. Anna crawled towards the foot of the bed, perturbed by the worrisome ruckus. She feared the wall as much as she feared the noise, like if the wall would collapse on the couple.
Anna asked, “You heard that, right? What was it?”
As he gazed at the wall, Austin responded, “It's... It's probably nothing. Maybe someone's moving some furniture or maybe there's a little fight going on. I don't know.”
Austin and Anna stumbled off the bed as another bang reverberated through their simple room. The wall vibrated from the violent blow, creaking from the impact. The pair staggered
towards the dresser, their eyes locked on the weak barrier. Huddled together like penguins in a snowstorm, the pair anxiously waited for the next bang – waiting for a person to tear through the wall. Yet, only silence followed the strange attacks.
Anna bit her bottom lip, frightened. She asked, “What the hell is going on over there, Austin? What are they doing? Shit, what if–”
Austin held his index finger up – quiet. He whispered, “I'm going to listen, okay? Wait here.”
“Wait, wait. Don't be stupid...”
Disregarding his girlfriend's pleas, Austin crept towards the wall, walking on his tiptoes with his shoulders stiff and high. He planted his ear on the wall and protruded his bottom lip, listening to the neighboring racket. Walls as thin as paper, he thought, probably as weak as paper, too. He couldn't help but feel vulnerable next to the wall.
From the dresser, Anna asked, “Do you hear anything?”
Shh! – Austin loudly shushed Anna. Being rude was not on his mind, he needed absolute silence to hear the other side. Anna understood the fact very well. She held her hands to her mouth and stared at her boyfriend. The wall was horrifying, her thoughts were appalling, but her boyfriend offered some comfort.
Austin furrowed his brow as he listened. He could hear indistinct muttering emerging from the other room, a conversation of bickering and quarreling. There was a tender female voice and a smooth male voice. A simple argument was a possibility – nothing out of the ordinary. Domestic abuse was nothing to scoff at, but survival seemed likely under the circumstances.
Before he could depart the frigid wall, Austin heard a hoarse male voice. The third voice was sonorous and indistinct, a ghastly mumble. With the additional voice, the setting became ominous. Danger lurked around the corner. He could not identify anyone in the other room. He tried to remember Dante's voice and accent, but the attempt was hopeless. The previous afternoon felt like it occurred a week ago.
Austin whispered, “Dante? Clyde?”